Pulmonary Fibrosis Patients With PH Get Techno Boost in phaware365 App

The nonprofit phaware global association (phaware), an organization focused on raising awareness of pulmonary hypertension, has developed a new mobile app (phaware365) to help achieve its goal globally through an innovative and engaging strategy.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a life-threatening cardiopulmonary disorder characterized by an abnormally high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries that supply blood to the lungs. The disorder may compromise the proper functioning of the lungs and heart, leading to difficulties in breathing, shortness of breath, right-sided heart failure and, eventually, death. The mean survivability is 2.8 years without treatment.

PH is a well-recognized complication in patients with pulmonary fibrosis, and it can aggravate the already fragile health of pulmonary fibrosis patients.

The phaware association reaches out to patients living with PH, connects healthcare professions, educates the general public, and interacts with industry decision-makers. It aims to promote innovative routes toward a cure, and make certain no one goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Using technology tools combined with the power of mass and social media, the organization hopes that the new phaware app will engage the global community in these efforts.

“The organization was born out of a simple hypothesis,” explained phaware co-Founder and president, Steve Van Wormer in a press release. “If we capture a single patient… save one life… what will it be worth?” Two leading pharmaceutical companies responded to the message in Van Wormer’s question, and began working with phaware. “We’re thankful that Actelion and Bayer share in our vision to increase global awareness for this rare lung disease,” said Van Wormer. Actelion Pharmaceuticals U.S., Inc. and Bayer HealthCare are currently sponsors of the phaware global association.

The new social phaware365 app was developed in collaboration with the Pixo Group and allows users to show the world that they are #phaware of not only PH but also chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), a life-threatening condition caused by repeated or unresolved pulmonary embolism due to blood clots.

App users can take a selfie photo, decorate and personalize it with PH facts, add stickers on awareness, and take part in global actions. Users can post their customized photos on social media and share them with phaware, becoming part of the phaware365 Selfie Stream that is being created.

“It doesn’t matter if you live in Burbank or Buenos Aires, Barcelona or Beijing, now you can participate in awareness activations like the #BlueLipKiss Challenge or #ManiUpForACure,” said Van Wormer mentioning some of the association’s initiatives.

Due to its PUSH technology, the phaware365 app also allows direct reciprocal communications with the company. “phaware and Pixo Group have additional in-app surprises in store for 2016,” said Van Wormer. “We are already hard at work on additions for February’s Rare Disease Day and May’s World PH Day.”

The mobile phaware apps are available on Google Play and iTunes app stores.